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Policy
Manual
ADOPTIONS
Supervision of Children in Adoptive
Placement
48-16-4
Post-Supervision of Placement
| Who Provides Post-Placement Services |
It should be decided prior to the beginning of the placement
process, which Social Worker will provide the post-placement services. It may be the
child's worker, a private agency worker through PPSP, or a Department worker in the region
in which the family resides. This Social Worker should become involved with the family
as soon as possible in order to begin to develop a relationship, if one does not already
exist. The roles of the child's worker, the homefinder and the worker providing
post-placement services should be clearly defined. |
| Focus of Services |
The focus of post-placement services should be on the
development of the total family relationship. The assigned worker needs to verify that the
child's needs are being met as well as help the child and the adoptive parents form an
integrated family. Services should also include reviewing all the information with the
family that was initially presented to them at the time of placement. |
| What the Services May Include |
Services may include, but not be limited to:
•counseling with the adoptive parents and the child
•assisting the family in their efforts to obtain services such as educational,
medical or therapeutic assistance
•providing an ongoing understanding of the child's specific needs
•referring to appropriate resources such as support groups, and
•finalizing the adoption.
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| Referral to Therapists |
Many adopted children with special needs do not respond to
traditional therapeutic approaches. It is important that children in adoptive placement be
referred to therapists who are knowledgeable about adoption issues. (The name of these
therapists may be obtained from ARE.) The earlier the therapeutic process begins, the
better the prognosis. |
| Assessment of Causes of Behavioral Problems |
Children in placement may have a wide variety of behavior
problems and the adoptive parents may need help in understanding the meaning of these
behaviors. An assessment of the underlying causes of the behavior needs to be carefully
made in order to determine the appropriate management of the behavior. Some children
have a great deal of difficulty in being able to trust. Some may have developmental delays
while others have never had acceptable role models from whom to learn appropriate
behaviors. |
| Grief Process |
All children in adoptive placements have undergone at least
one major separation. The adoptive parents need to understand what loss means to the child
and to be able to help the child through the grief process. |
| Review of Child Background and Family
History |
The child's background and family history need to be reviewed
with the adoptive family after placement. Even though they were given this information
prior to placement, they cannot remember it all or assimilate it all at once. It is a good
idea to give them as much of the information as possible in writing. The family should
be encouraged to keep the Life Book available to the child and to review it with the child
periodically, particularly at the different stages of development. Parents may also
continue the Life Book process. |
| Adoptive Parent's Feelings |
The Social Worker needs to recognize that the adoptive
parents will be dealing with mixed feelings and emotions of their own after the child is
placed. They may need time to be able to accept the child as he/she is rather than the
child that they had fantasized about prior to placement. If infertility is the reason for
adoption, the placement of the child may arouse feelings which had not been resolved. |
| The Child's Past |
The family may need help in what and how to tell the child
about his/her past, and how to answer his/her questions. They may also need help in
knowing what to tell the extended family and friends about the child (as well as in
helping the child with what he/she should tell others). The Life Book process affords the
opportunity for the child to explore and understand his/her past. |
| Contact With the Child's Past |
If there is to be contact with the foster family, members of
the birth family, or other significant people in the child's past, this should be
readdressed during this period. In some cases, this contact may be limited to an
exchange of letters and pictures sent through the Social Worker to ensure that names and
addresses will not be divulged. In other cases, there may be actual visiting, either in
the adoptive home or in any other location.
If this contact is to continue after the adoption is finalized, the adoptive family may
want help in how this should be arranged. With an older child, it is usually important
that he/she have at least one visit with the former foster family after he/she has been
placed. |
| Outside Contact |
In general, it is essential to let the adoptive parents
handle as many of the outside contacts pertaining to the child as possible. This would
include school, therapy, medical, etc. If it is necessary for the Social Worker to become
involved, this should be in conjunction with the adoptive parents and with their knowledge
and permission. This is crucial for their claiming the child as their own. |
Connecticut Department of Children and Families Issued:
March 1, 1994
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